Food Insecurity Among Medicare Beneficiaries in 2017-2022: A Longitudinal Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Public Health
• Health Economics

Background:

• Food insecurity is a significant issue for older adults, linked to adverse health outcomes.
• Limited longitudinal data exists on predictors of food insecurity among Medicare beneficiaries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictors of subsequent food insecurity in older adults using Medicare data.
• To analyze the impact of demographics, socioeconomic factors, health conditions, and prior food insecurity on future risk.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective longitudinal cohort study of 12,029 Medicare beneficiaries (2017-2022).
• Utilized Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data, including self-reported and claims data.
• Applied linear lagged dependent variable models to estimate probabilities of future food insecurity.

Main Results:

• Prior year food insecurity was the strongest predictor, increasing subsequent risk by 43 percentage points.
• Other key predictors included poor general health, inability to afford dental care, difficulty paying medical bills, and not filling prescriptions due to cost.
• Hispanic ethnicity was also associated with increased food insecurity risk.

Conclusions:

• Prior food insecurity and acute financial strain indicators strongly predict future food insecurity in older Medicare beneficiaries.
• Integrating these indicators into screening can improve identification of at-risk individuals.
• Policy reforms and support services are needed to mitigate food insecurity and its health consequences.